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7 Tips for Safe Travel With Deep Vein Thrombosis

Take Precautions to Prevent Blood Clots

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If you’re traveling and have a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), limited leg room on an airplane is more than uncomfortable. Traffic on the highway is more than just an inconvenience. Sitting in a cramped position for a long period of time increases anyone's risk for DVT, a type of blood clot in a large vein. But if you've had a clot in the past, the risk is even higher, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here's what you need to know and do to prevent travel-related DVT.

Make Time for Walking Breaks

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If your leg is bent at the knee for a long period of time, it can reduce blood flow and increase your risk for a clot. Standing up and moving your legs can help. "Walk up and down the aisles of the bus, train, or plane. If traveling by car, stop about every hour and walk around," suggests Jae Sung Cho, MD, division director of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill. For air travelers, request an aisle seat. There's a bit more leg room, and it's easier to get up and move around.

Exercise in Your Seat

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Even if you have to sit for a long time, it doesn't have to be a period of inactivity. Certain exercises can help with preventive care for DVT. Moving your legs and flexing your feet improve blood flow in your calves. "The calf muscles help pump blood from the legs back toward the heart, so the stagnation of blood in the veins is avoided," Dr. Cho says. "If you're in a car or on an airplane, move your ankles up and down like you are pressing on the gas pedal." He suggests doing 20 to 30 of these movements every 30 minutes.

Wear Compression Stockings

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If you have a history of DVT, your doctor may recommend that you wear fitted compression stockings to improve blood flow in your lower leg. These special stockings provide graduated pressure that's strongest at the ankle and gradually decreases up to the knee or thigh. Cho says that the precise type of compression stockings that's best for you depends on where you developed a clot in the past. "Below the knee is usually sufficient, but if you had a blood clot that extended above the knee into the thigh, then thigh compression stockings would be a good idea," he says.

Ask About Blood-Thinning Medication

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Taking to your doctor before you hit the road should be on your to-do list if you have a history of DVT. Traveling for more than four hours increases your risk for another blood clot. It's particularly important to talk to your doctor if you have other risk factors — if you're overweight, smoke, or are 60 or older, for instance. Your doctor may recommend that you take a blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin (Coumadin), dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), or apixaban (Eliquis), as part of your treatment. These drugs reduce your blood's ability to clot. They also prevent existing clots from getting bigger.

Keep a Consistent Diet

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If your doctor prescribes the anticoagulant drug warfarin to help prevent DVT while traveling, "it's important to be consistent and avoid too much variation in your diet, which can interact with the drug," Cho cautions. A key nutrient is vitamin K, which is essential for the chemical reactions that help blood clots form. The richest sources of vitamin K include green leafy vegetables and broccoli. Eating more than usual of these foods high in vitamin K can make warfarin less effective. Consuming less can increase its effects.

Stay Hydrated, Limit Alcohol

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While traveling long distances, allowing yourself to get dehydrated could increase your risk for DVT. Not drinking enough may cause your blood volume to decrease, which can cause it to "thicken." To prevent this, be sure to drink plenty of fluids while traveling. It's equally important to limit how much alcohol you drink because it can lead to dehydration. Alcohol can also affect how your body metabolizes the blood thinner warfarin. "Although a moderate amount is okay," Cho says, "avoid excessive alcohol consumption."

Improve Your Blood Flow

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You can take other simple steps to improve blood flow while traveling, and reduce your risk for DVT. For instance, don't wear tight clothing that constricts your waist or legs. Instead, opt for loose-fitting outfits that don't cut off your circulation. It's also a good idea to avoid crossing your legs while you're sitting. And, if you're in a car or a plane, don't store bags on the floor by your feet, where they can restrict your movement, recommends the American Society of Hematology.